28653 research outputs found
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A hidden curriculum of communication: promoting success in the elite math classroom
No full textThis study sought to answer the question “How do math teachers at an elite school promote success in their classrooms?”. Qualitative data were collected through classroom observations and interviews of four math teachers and one administrator at Porter Preparatory Academy1, an elite high school. Informed by grounded theory and inductive coding methods, this study revealed five themes of good teaching practices: instruction, framing, creating continuity, positive reinforcement, and teacher humanness. Through discourse with the literature on good teaching, the teaching practices utilized by the four teachers at Porter Preparatory School are revealed as a hidden curriculum of communication that promoted success in their classrooms. The five themes are discussed through the lens of Hattie and Timperley’s (2007) model of feedback to suggest that these good teaching practices work together to strengthen the “Power of Feedback” (Hattie and Timperley, 2007, p. 81) by answering the questions “Where am I going?”, “How am I going?”, and “Where to next?”, along with an additional question suggested by this research, “Who am I going with?”.Ph. D
Reading enjoyment and frequency
No full textThe researchers studied parental perceived reading enjoyment and reading frequency among elementary and middle school students. 213 participants (NES=131, NMS=82) were recruited for the study. The researchers used the Classification and Regression trees to explore what predictors may affect reading with a child and its frequency. It was found that, among elementary school students, the mother’s level of education and parental ability to help were crucial. These students were more likely to enjoy reading if their parents knew how to support them. Conversely, the parents of middle school students were more likely to enjoy reading if their parents read to them at least once a week. Moreover, they were more likely to read more frequently if they enjoyed reading. In the future, it is recommended to measure self-perception among students as well as teacher’s perception.M. S
What if Athens killed Confucius: a thought experiment following the development of the American justice system's conception of punishment
No full textA primary component of the American Criminal Justice System is the approach to punishment, which includes intention, justification, and methodology. This paper establishes a timeline that follows the development of punishment, beginning in the present and working back to Ancient Greece to the trial of Socrates, commonly referred to as the father of Western philosophy. Around the same time in history, the father of Eastern philosophy, Confucius, taught in the East. Socrates and Confucius had very different approaches to most aspects of life, especially punishment. Where Socrates saw punishment as a cure for the soul, Confucius thought punishment should be light and moderate, focusing on rehabilitation. This paper explores their conceptions of punishment and then proceeds to partake in a thought experiment where Confucius replaces Socrates in ancient Greece. The exact timeline from the first part of the paper is utilized to observe the significant deviations that would occur in the evolution of punishment theory with Confucius’s collectivist influence. By the end of the timeline, the present day, the American conception of punishment shifts to foundationally classify rehabilitation as the primary function of punishment to assist in the self-cultivation of offenders so that they may have a better chance of reentering of productive members of society.B. ?Honors Colleg
The artificial intelligence workplace revolution
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) is one of the fastest growing fields of computer science of this decade. At the time of this review, AI is also growing in importance in the life of the everyday American. The technology is being added to smart home devices, cell phones, and many software programs on computers. As this technology has been developed, companies have also started adopting it to improve processes in the workplace. There are concerns on the type of implementation of AI; if AI can automate tasks and replace human jobs or if it will be used to augment what workers can achieve. This video “The Artificial Intelligence Workplace Revolution” looks into the possible ways that AI can change the way that we work and the future of legislation that guides how we use AI in the workplace.B. ?Honors Colleg
Metabolite extraction from antibiotic-producing bacteria isolated from dairy farm specimens
No full textAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) have caused a serious crisis
worldwide. Currently, the annual number of infections is 2.8 million people and each year, more
than 700,000 deaths from these diseases are reported worldwide. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has mentioned the ESKAPE pathogens as needing urgent attention for new antimicrobial
treatments. Aiming to address this urgent challenge, this study explores the untapped potential
of micro-ecologically underexplored environments for antibiotic discovery. Bacillus species were
found in environmental samples collected from All Wright Dairy Farms in Muncie, IN. ESKAPE
pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterobacter species,
were inhibited by novel antibiotic compounds derived from fermentation cultures of these
Bacillus strains. A thin-layer chromatography (TLC) separation and overlay with indicator
organisms confirmed this antimicrobial activity. Farm-derived Bacillus species are presented in
this study as an effective and proactive solution for combating antibiotic resistance, especially
against ESKAPE pathogens. There is a need to explore diverse environmental sources, including
dairy farms, to address the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR)
crisis. The compound structure, safety, antibiotic spectrum, and stability must be further
investigated before in vivo trials can begin. In the global public health arena, antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance are among the most pressing challenges, and this study contributes to the international effort to address them.M. S
Trends of change in tree species compositional structure and measuring of coarse woody debris in Donaldson's woods, an old growth forest in Souther Indiana
No full textOld growth forests, characterized by their large trees and complex structure, are particularly valuable for their ecological, social, and economic benefits. These mature forests grant us insight into tree species composition and community structures of the past (Butler, et al. 2018).
The study site is within Donaldson’s Woods Nature Preserve; located in Spring Mill State Park, near Mitchell, Indiana. Our site was an old-growth forest permanent 1300x700m plot. The corners of the plot are marked with metal fence posts 76.2 cm tall. A grid was established on the plot with 12 transect lines, running west to east, and 7 lines running north to south resulting in 84-30x30m subplots and 12 transect corridors.
A systematic sampling method was used for the collection of coarse woody debris (CWD) volume data. Ten total subplots, arranged in a checkerboard pattern, starting at the southwest most subplot. Subplots were all sampled for all CWD of at least 10cm in diameter. Each log was classified into one of five decay classes based on state of decay (adapted from Spetich et al. 1999, Idol et al. 2001). Diameter breast height (Dbh) and azimuth of any standing dead trees was also calculated for each plot.
Species composition was dominated by Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Fagus grandifolia (American Beech), and Quercus alba (White Oak). Trees of the lower size-classes had the greatest number of stems across all sampled species. Species density was greatest in the species A. saccharum, F. grandifolia, and Q. alba. Acer saccharum had the highest value at 90.14 density/ha.M. S
Trends of change in tree species compositional structure and measuring of coarse woody debris in Donaldson's woods, an old growth forest in Southern Indiana
No full textOld growth forests, characterized by their large trees and complex structure, are particularly valuable for their ecological, social, and economic benefits. These mature forests grant us insight into tree species composition and community structures of the past (Butler, et al. 2018).
The study site is within Donaldson’s Woods Nature Preserve; located in Spring Mill State Park, near Mitchell, Indiana. Our site was an old-growth forest permanent 1300x700m plot. The corners of the plot are marked with metal fence posts 76.2 cm tall. A grid was established on the plot with 12 transect lines, running west to east, and 7 lines running north to south resulting in 84-30x30m subplots and 12 transect corridors.
A systematic sampling method was used for the collection of coarse woody debris (CWD) volume data. Ten total subplots, arranged in a checkerboard pattern, starting at the southwest most subplot. Subplots were all sampled for all CWD of at least 10cm in diameter. Each log was classified into one of five decay classes based on state of decay (adapted from Spetich et al. 1999, Idol et al. 2001). Diameter breast height (Dbh) and azimuth of any standing dead trees was also calculated for each plot.
Species composition was dominated by Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Fagus grandifolia (American Beech), and Quercus alba (White Oak). Trees of the lower size-classes had the greatest number of stems across all sampled species. Species density was greatest in the species A. saccharum, F. grandifolia, and Q. alba. Acer saccharum had the highest value at 90.14 density/ha.M. S
Differences in nutrition provision in patients with or without open abdomen: a retrospective cohort study of patients with enterocutaneous fistula
No full textBackground: Ideal nutrition provision in the first week of critically ill surgical patients is
not well understood. Patients with open abdomen have a high nutrition demand, and this
patient population is at considerable risk of enterocutaneous fistula development. This study
aimed to assess the differences in nutrition provision in patients with or without an open
abdomen and known development of enterocutaneous fistula. Methods: This retrospective
study consisted of a cohort of enterocutaneous fistula patients from 2019-2022. After inclusion
criteria were met, patients were divided in two groups: those with open abdomen and those
without. Patient electronic medical records were examined to assess the percentage of
nutrition provision in the first week of hospital stay, and researchers aimed to establish if goal
nutrition (>60% estimated needs) was delayed in the open abdomen group. Secondary
outcomes included length of stay, ICU length of stay, and nutrition status at discharge. Results:
45 patients were included in this study, 17 patients with open abdomen and 28 patients
without. There were no statistical differences in hospital day to achieve goal nutrition or
percentage of target nutrition received in the first six days. There was a weak to moderate
correlation between nutrition provision and length of stay and ICU length of stay. The open
abdomen cohort had a significantly longer ICU length of stay and a greater decline in nutrition
status during hospital admit. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in nutrition
provision during the first six days of hospital admission between open abdomen and non-open
abdomen patients with known enterocutaneous fistula development.M. S
Chaos orbiting chaos
No full textOn Valentine’s Day of last year, after years of speculation, I was formally diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum—confirmation of something I had suspected for the last five years. Here, finally, was an explanation for everything: the bullying I experienced growing up in a single-sex school, the social alienation I’ve felt my entire life, my other neurodivergencies. Autism was the connecting thread.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I found out that those who do not identity with the gender they were assigned at birth are three to six times more likely to be autistic as their cisgender counterparts. This is according to Spectrum, a news and science site at the forefront of autism research, used by lay people and scientists and clinicians alike to better understand the neurodevelopmental disorder.
As I explained to Jill Christman recently, this was a lightbulb moment for me, as a trans individual and writer.
Growing up was difficult for me for a number of reasons. Living in the buckle of the Bible Belt as a young queer and closeted trans person was difficult enough, but being queer and a closeted trans person in addition to neurodivergent with mental health struggles? I had a target on my back from
My gender identity has been a frequent topic of my creative nonfiction, but because the autism diagnosis is so fresh, I’ve yet to explore the ways in which my autism has impacted all aspects of my life, including my gender identity as it has morphed and changed over the years. Certainly, growing up trans and queer at Girls Preparatory School was difficult enough, but with this new diagnosis, I’m able to look back on my life and see key events—the aforementioned bullying, and blips in time of my burgeoning gender dysphoria, being two important ones—in a new light and with a new lens.
I’m interested in exploring just that, this intersection between my trans status and autistic brain, and how the two have impacted me and each other throughout my life.M. A
Virtual reality for classroom language learning
No full textWith this creative project, I sought to design and develop a Virtual Reality (VR)
experience to support second language learning in university classrooms. The prototype
links language learning through traditional classroom curricula to language acquisition
through virtual environments where world language applications can be practiced in
simulated scenarios with native-speaking characters. The design and development of
the project is guided by interview, ethnographic, and secondary research; development
and programming language technical capabilities; and usability design principle
frameworks. Research and Thematic Analysis is used to identify key considerations and
best practices for integrating a digital tool of this nature into traditional classroom
settings. Research insights shape the foundation of the user experience design,
directing its focus on utilizing VR as a supplemental practice space for hearing and
speaking a language in conversational scenarios. Taking technical capabilities into
consideration, this project leverages the affordances of the Unity Real-Time Game
Engine, C-Sharp (C#) programming language, OpenAI’s WhisperAI Speech Recognition
System, and Oculus Quest 2 Head Mounted Display. The capabilities of these tools
directly influence the mapping of the user flows and interaction setups within the
experience. Usability heuristics and design principles for VR products guide the creation
of user interface elements to ensure optimal visual accessibility, intuitiveness of layout,
and appropriate signaling to effectively guide the user through the experience. By
combining technological capabilities of development with research-informed design, project introduces a novel application of VR for the language learning use case. It is
designed to complement traditional classroom teaching methods rather than replace
them, offering students an engaging platform for practical language practice. Overall,
this prototype is an exploration of VR’s potential as an educational tool that can extend
language learning beyond the classroom—it provides students with an immersive space
for reinforcing their linguistic skills, connecting in-class theory with real-world practice.
A supplementary demonstration video of the product is included in the final project
upload, which includes a voiceover where I detail the user experience in the perspective
of a student and overview some of the major research insights that influenced my
design decisions.M. A